Kielbasa Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 pound kielbasa, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 cans (15.5 oz) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
• 1 medium tart apple, cored and diced
• 1 medium green pepper, diced
• 4 large green onions, chopped
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 TBS cider vinegar
• 1 TBS spicy mustard
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp pepper

Directions:

1. Brown kielbasa in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain on a paper towel, and set aside.
2. Combine in a mixing bowl: black-eyed peas, diced apple, green pepper, green onions, and kielbasa.
3. Mix the dressing ingredients in a cup or small bowl: Whisk together vegetable oil, cider vinegar, spicy mustard, sugar, and black pepper.
4. Pour dressing over salad ingredients, stir lightly.
5. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight - prior to serving.

Hint: Next time you shop for groceries, grab a bag of frozen diced green peppers to have on hand *just in case*. Even better, if you find a good sale on fresh green peppers - buy several to prep and freeze when you get them home. This salad is a great meal for hot nights when no one wants to heat up the kitchen. Enjoy!!

I shared this recipe over at Whimsy Wednesday on The NY Melrose Family blog - go check it out!

Sesame Salmon

Ingredients:

• 2 TBS cider vinegar
• 2 TBS soy sauce
• 1 TBS honey
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp spicy brown mustard
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 salmon fillet (1 1/2 - 2 lbs)
• 2 TBS toasted sesame seeds
• 3 green onions, sliced

Directions:

1. Place salmon fillet in a large resealable bag.
2. Combine cider vinegar, soy sauce, vegetable oil, spicy brown mustard, honey, and ground ginger in a small bowl or measuring cup - then pour over salmon in resealable bag.
3. Reseal bag and refrigerate for one hour, turning once.
4. Preheat grill prior to cooking. Prepare preheated grill with nonstick cooking spray.
5. Drain excess marinade from salmon fillet, and place salmon fillet skin side down on to preheated prepared grill.
6. Grill - covered, over medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes or until the fillet flakes easily with a fork.
7. Sprinkle top of cooked salmon with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.